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AMERICAN SEA SONGS. 21 |
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2,1812, between the American frigate Constitution, Captain Isaac Hull, and the British frigate Guer-riere, Captain James R. Dacres, and one of consummate seamanship as well as fighting capacity on the part of Hull, was the theme of the best and most spirited song of the whole war; one which still keeps its place in the forecastle, and, it may be hoped, will keep it so long as Uncle Sam has a war-ship afloat. It is set to a very lively and emphatic air, called, indifferently, The Landlady of France and The Bandy-Legged Officer, from the coarsely comical words which George Colman the younger had written to it.
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE GUERRIERE.
It ofttimes has been told
That the British sailors bold Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, O.
And they never found their match
Till the Yankees did them catch. Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, O.
The Guerriere, a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled, Commanded by proud Dacres, the grandee, O.
With choice of British crew,
As ever rammer drew, They could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, O.
When this frigate hove in view, Says proud Dacres to his crew, |
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